International Chamber of Shipping develops and promotes shipping industry best practices and guidance through a wide range of publications and free resources that are used by ship operators globally.
You can download most publications from the list below for free and purchase the paid-for publications from our ICS bookshop.
This modern and practical medical guide from ICS has been written and reviewed by an international group of maritime medical practitioners and experts with many years' experience of working with and training seafarers and fishers. It can be used on board all ships and fishing vessels, anywhere in the world, and in onshore safety departments, medical assistance centres and training institutions who support seafarers and fishers.
The IMO International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) regulate the training and certification of seafarers and forms the basis for standards of crew competence that are enforced worldwide. The Convention also regulates watchkeeping arrangements on board merchant ships, including watchkeepers’ minimum rest hours. The fourth edition of Guidelines on the IMO STCW Convention sets out the obligations for shipping companies and includes guidance on how to ensure compliance on board.
The ICS Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit for Shipping has been developed to create awareness and inspire change in the strategies, policies and practices that will enable the maritime industry to meet the needs of the diverse seafarer community. It provides descriptions and definitions; provides ways to assess the current needs of diverse communities and identify gaps in services, policies and practice; and makes suggestions on how to fill these gaps.
A report commissioned by the International Chamber of Shipping, written by researchers at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of Manchester
This new publication from ICS guides readers through the first step on the route to decarbonisation: preparing for compliance with the IMO regulatory framework, and in particular, the 2021 amendments to MARPOL Annex VI. It sets out plainly what the key regulatory changes are for shipowners, operators and managers and explains in detail the full range of additional technical and operational requirements which ships must now comply with.
This Industry Guidance is specifically aimed at clarifying the exchange of information between shipowners and suppliers through the supplier’s submission of the Material Declaration (MD) and the Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC). It will assist shipowners and suppliers in understanding and complying with their obligations with respect to MD and SDoC under the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) and EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EUSRR), reducing the administrative burden for shipowners and suppliers, and ensuring the provision of accurate information necessary for the maintenance of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM).
This practical and easy to understand workbook supports the owner, Master and the ship’s crew with cyber security risk management. It contains comprehensive checklists to assist with the day-to-day management of onboard cyber security and facilitates collaboration between ships, onshore IT departments and equipment manufacturers.
Shipping will continue to play a vital role in helping national economies to chart a course towards economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This Trade Policy Review outlines some of the major strategic projects undertaken by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) on behalf of the global shipping industry, in promoting and advancing the principles of free trade, fair competition and market access, to ensure that policymakers are equipped with the most accurate and up-to-date industry information.
September 2022Reports, Positions and Papers | Free
This publication describes the various types of biofouling and the problems it can cause for ship operation and the marine environment. It examines the use of anti-fouling systems to prevent the build-up of biofouling as well as the options available for ship cleaning. It also sets out biofouling legislation and guidelines. The book includes data sheets for a number of hull cleaning companies worldwide.